Laundry-machine.



J. Fl LAUNDRY MACHINE. APPLICATIOII'HLEII mun. um.

1,302,868 'mm May @1919 5 SIIEE'N-SHEET h.

r 1". v 7 Zg Z U 47 31 33' f L F. SMRZ.

LAUNDRY MACIHNE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4.

Patented May 6, 1919 1. F. SMRZ. LAUNDRY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEMJBII- Patented May 6, 1919. I

Patented May 6, 1919. I

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 Jamesf'firmz .I F SMRZ LAUNDRY MACHINE.

APPFIVCATION FILED JUNE 4. 1911. 1,302,868.

J. F. SMRZ.

LAUNDRY ,MACHINE. xrruamou HLED man. my. V

' Patented May 6, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SMRZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAUNDRY-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6, 1919.

' Application fl1ed June 4, 1917. Serial No. 172,674.

ing and drying clothes, and also to associate with the machine a pair of mangle rolls for smoothing or ironing out'the clothes after they are washed. The washing apparatus consists of a tank in which the clothes to be washed are placed, with means for boiling the Water .in the tank. In this tank or clothes boiler is mounted. a container in which clothes are supported during the Washing or boiling operation, and in said container operates an agitator having an alternating rotary movement. After the washing operation the container may be revolved at a high rate of speed for the purpose of wringing the water out ofthe clothes and drying the same. The ironing or smoothin of the washed clothes may be done at t e same time the machine is wash ing other clothes, and by the use of the ma chine the usual rubber roll wringers, wash boiler, stove, fiat irons, tubs, clothes lines, pins and space to dry the clothes are eliminated. I

The washing operation is sanitary as the clothes are boiled continuously and dried by hot air which is generated from burners located beneath the tank, and the washing and ironing operation is easily andrapidly effected. A further advantage of the apparatus is that .the person operating the same need not leave the room to hang up the clothes to dry, and the person is therefore not exposed. to the danger of catching colds by passing from the hot, damp laundry room into the outside air. The apparatus is designed more particularly for domestic purposes, and as the tank containing the hot water is heated by burners connected. di- 1:ectly to the tank, and as the water is not in" a separate receptacle placed on the top of a stove, there is no danger of children. being scalded.

. The objects and advantages of the invention pointed out hereinbefore are attained by means of a novel combination and a1- rangement of parts to be hereinafter described and clalmed, and, in order that the same may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a. central vertical section of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation; 3

Fig. 4 is a plan view with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragment of the clothes container showing certain structural details to be described herein-.

after;

Fig. 6 a sectional detail. showing the means whereby the clothes container may be coupled up for the purpose of revolving the same;

' Fig. 7 is a sectional detail showing a hood for one of the burners;

Fig. 8 is a detail in perspective showing a method of assembling the Walls of the clothes container, and a Fig. 9 is a sectional detail on the line 99 of Fig. 4. y

Referring specific-ally to the drawings, 10 denotes the supporting frame of the machine, the same being constructed of uprights suitably connected and braced to support two tanks or water containers l1 and '12, respectively, located one above the other,

and in spaced relation. The two tanks are in communication with each other through the pipe 13 leading from the bottom of-the upper tank 11 and openingthrough the top of the bottom tank 12, said pipe being arovided with a suitable valve 13. To the )ottom of the top tank 11 is also connected an outlet pipe 1'-l having a suitable connection with sewer for carrying away the dirty water after the Washing operation is completed. The supporting frame ofthe machine alsoshows a pump 15 for returning the water in the bottom tank 12 Ito the top tank 11.. As shown in Fig. 1, the punip has a valved inlet connection 15 with the bottom of the tank 12, and an outlet connection 15 with the tank 11 near the top thereof. The

The water in the tank 11 is adapted to be heated by means of burners 17 of any suit v able type. The drawingsshow ordinary gas burners, but it will be understood that oil burners may be employed with equal facility. In the bottom of the tank 11 are made openings in which are mounted hoods 18' extended upward into the tank, and in which hoods the burnersl? are located, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A leak-proof connection is,

. flange by 'bolts18 passing through the ring,

the flange and the tank bottom. Above the tank bottom the hood is encircled by a ring 18 through which the bolts 18 also pass. It will therefore be seen that upon tightening up the nuts on the bolts 18 the hood is tightly clamped to the'tank bottom and a leak-proof joint is had.

In the tank 11 is mounted a clothes container consisting of a cylinder-19 positioned vertically and composed of a side wall and top and bottom walls 20 and 21, respectively, closing the ends thereof. The top 20 of the cylinder has an opening 20 shown in Fig.

inder. As shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the drawings, the side wall and the bot:

tom of the cylinder are perforated in order bottom of the cylinder has'gtransverse cor rugations' 21, the aforementioned perforations being located between the corrugations.

The purpose of the corrugations in the side wall and the bottom of the cylinder is to strengthen and stiffen the same.

The spaces between the corrugations'19 at the top and bottom of the side wall of the cylinder 19 are flanged outward as shown at 19', leaving the corrugations projecting. The top and bottom'walls 20 and 21 of the cylinder are, notched at their peripheries to receive the projecting portions of the corrugations and to seat on the flanges 19". The projecting portions of the corrugations 19 are split and flanged over the top and bottom walls, as shown at 19, thus fastening said walls to the side wall of thecylinder. This method of joining the side and the top and bottom or end walls of the cylinder makes a. smooth inner surface and provides-a secure fastening requiring no bolts or rivets.

In the cylinder 19 is mountedan agitator 22 carried by a shaft 23 extending into the cylinder and arranged coaxially therewith.

4, said opening being for the purpose of per- 4 mitting the clothes to be placed in the cyl- The agitator' hasan alternating rotary indve- 'ment, it being given this motion by a gearing to be presently described, and when the agitator is in operation the cylinder 19 will be held stationary within the tank 11 by a latch 24 engaging a keeper-aperture in the cylinder top 20. The cylinder is so supported that it may be rotated for a purpose to be present-1y described. As shown in Fig. 1, the bottom of the tank carries a bearing 25 in which is stepped a spindle 25 secured to and depending from the cylinder bottom 21 at the center thereof. To the top 20 of the cylinder is secured a. plate 26 having a hub 26 coinciding with the aXis of the cylinder, through which hub the shaft 23 passes. The outer end of the hub bears against a bracket-arm 27 carried by a bracket 28, said bracket arm tank 11. The cylinder is rotated by coupling the shaft 23 to the hub 26. In order that this may be done the lower end of the shaft 23 to which the agitator 22 is connected has a squared and tapered portion 23, and the 1nterior of the hub 26' is correspondingly shaped. The shaft 23 is movable in the direction of its length to wedge the part 23 into the hub 26, and when this is done and the shaft 23 is rotated, the cylinder 19 is coupled to said shaft and rotates therewith. lponsliding the shaft 23 downward and taking the part 23 out-of the hub '26 the cylinder is disconnected from the shaft.

The lower end of the shaft 23 passes through the agitator 22 and is secured thereto by a nut 22, with a cover 22 provided for. said nut to screwing.

-The top of the tank 11 is provided with a stationary cover, 29 and a swinging cover 30,-

the latter being for the purpose of permit-' ting access to the tank so that the clothes may be placed into and removed from the cylinder 19. The cover 30 is hinged to the supporting frame of the machine, one of the hlnges being shown at 30, and when closed it rests at its free edge on the bracket-member27, the latter extending throughout the,

entire length ofthe cover 30..

The. stationary cover 29. supports the bracket 28 the same being integral therewith as shown in Fig. 1:,At theiupper end ofthe bracket'is a guide 31 for a slide 31 fixed to the upper end of the shaft 23. On a bracket 32 carried by the cover 29 is fulcrumed a lever 33. having one end connected to the slide 31. This lever and its connec-" tion with the slide are provided for the purpose of raising and lowering the shaft 23 to couple the same to the cylinder 19 and to uncouple the same as herelnbefore described. The shaft is elevated upon swinging the handle end of the lever downward, and

being positioned inside the prevent the same from unupon swinging the lever in the opposite direction the shaft is lowered. A pin 33 passmg the lever 33, locks the latter. The fulcrum of the lever is shown at 33". The connection between the lever and the slide 31 maybe made by forming the latter with a side apem ture into which the end of the lever extends as shown in Fig. 1.

The shaft 23 is operated ing gearing:

he supporting frame 10 carries an electricmotor 34 which is the power source. It will be understood, however, that an other power source may be provided.- On the shaft ofthe motor is a pulley 35 which is by the follow- 1 connected by a belt 35.to a. large pullley 36 positioned at the top of the frame and fast on a shaft 36 supported in a suitable bearing bracket 37 carried by the cover 29. On the shaft 36 are also mounteda spur-gear 38 and a pinion 39, the same being connected or formed integral so as to turn as one.

This gear andpinion are slida'ble on the shaft 36 and they are also connected to the shaft to turn therewith. This connection may be a spline or feather. The pinion 39 is in mesh with a spur-gear 40 on a countershaft 41 supported in a suitable bearing on the frame of the machine. On the gear 40 is a wrist-pin 40 towhich is attached one end 4 of a connecting rod 42 having its other end attached to a rocker-arm 42 loosely carried by a shaft 43. The distance'of the wrist-pin 40from the center of the shaft-41 is less than the length of the rocker arm 42, and

hence it will be seen that an oscillatory movement is imparted to the shaft 43 when the shaft 41 is in motion, and the rocker arm 42 is coupled to the shaft 43. This os-' cillatory movement of the shaft 43'is'transmitted to the shaft 23 through. a bevel gear-- the shaft 43 carrying alarge bevel gear- 44 ivhich is in mesh with a bevel pinion 44 on the shaft 23,- The shaft 23 extends slidably through the pinion 44, a driving connection being provided by a spline or feather.- This sliding connection between the shaft 23 and the pinion 44 is necessary to enable theformer to he slid up and down for the purpose hereinbefore described.

It will be evident that the agitator 22 receives an alternating rotary movement gwhich also serves through the gearing hereinbefore described when the motor 34 is running. In order to rotate the cylinder 19 when the shaft 23 is coupled thereto the following mechanism is provided. 1 .Onthe shaft 43 is fixed a spur-gear 45 to operatively connect the rocker arm 42 to the shaft 43 for oscillatory movement hereinbefore' described, said rocker arm hav' a clutch member-.46 which is an integral ub extenthrough the bracket 32 on one side of the sion thereof having end pins adapted enter apertures in the end of the hub of.

the gear 45. When the shaft 43 is to be oscillated, as hereinbe fore dwcribed, by the rocker-arm 42, the clutch-member is connected to the gear. 45, and upon disengaging the clutch member the shaft 43 will be r0- tated continuously in one direction when said gear is driven. The gear 45 is driven for the purpose stated bysliding the gear 38 into mesh' therewith, and when this is done, the pinion 39 is disconnected from the gear 40. With the gears 38 and 45 in mesh the shaft 43 is driven from the shaft 36 p f with a continuous rotary motion.

The clutch member46 has a connection 30 with the lever 33, the connection being such that when said lever is operated to couple the shaft 23 to the cylinder 19, the clutchmember 46 is disconnected from the gear 45. This connection is" made by link 47 connected to a clutch shifter lever 47. The lever 33 also has a connection 48 for operating the latch 24, said connection being so arranged that the latch isswung to release the cylinder 19 when the latter is coupled to the shaft 23. The lever 33- also has a connection .with the gears 38 and 39 for sliding the same along the shaft 36 to engage the gear 38 with the gear 45, and to disengage said gears-and bring the pinion 39 again in mesh with the gear 40. This connection is made b ineans of a lever 49' fulcrumed intermediate its ends bracket-arm 49 extending from a frame 7 member 50 which is an upstanding flange at the edge of the cover 29. One end of this lever has a connection with the clutch memshown provided with an extension arm 24 projecting at an angle therefrom and having connected to its outer end a latch-rod 24 extending across the top of the stationaryl cover 29, the outer end of said rod passing through an aperture in the bracket 28 so as to engage the inner free edge of the cover .30, it being understood that the hinge connection 30 between said cover and the frame of the machine is at'the outer edge. When the latch 24 is moved down to retracted to release the cover 30, allowing the same to be swung open, but when the latch 24 is retracted to release thecylinder 19, the latch rod 24 is advanced to lock the lock the cylinder 19, the latch m1 24 is cover 30. The-purpose of the latch. rod 24 is to prevent access to the interior of the machine while the cylinder 19 is rotating. The cover 30 can be opened only when the cylinder 19 is not in motion.

' It is thought that the 0 eration of the machine will be understood rom the foregoing detailed description but it may be summarized as follows: v

'The clothes beingplacedinto the cylinder 19, and water and soap being laced in the tank 11, the burners 17 are lighted and the agitator 22 is started. After the machine has run a sufiicient length 'of time to wash the clothes clean, the motor 34 is stopped and the water in the tank 11 is allowed to run into the tank 12 b opening the valve 13*. When the tan empty, the pin 33 is withdrawn and the lever 33 is operated to slide the shaft 23 upward for the purpose of coupling the sameto the cylinder 19; This movement of .the lever also disconnects the mechanism whereby the shaft 23 is oscillated and throwsin gear the mechanism whereby the shaft is rotated, and after again locking the lever 33 and starting the motor 34 the cylin the cylinder.

may be run into the tank 11 and the agitating action repeated, after which the water is allowed to escape through the outlet connection 14, theclothes being now ready for the drying operation by being again spun around as hereinbefore described. After the clothes are dried they are removed from the cylinder 19 and placed in a basket or other suitable receptacle and another batch of clothes may be placed in the machine,

the dried patch of clothes being, ready for the mangling or ironing operation.

After the second batch of clothes is placed into the cylinder 19, the ump 15 will be started to pump. the suds rom the tank 12 back into the tank 11. The'pump is operated by the following means:

The friction wheel v16 is carried 'by' a lever 51 fulcrumed at .51 to the supporting frame of the machine, and said friction wheel is so positioned that whenthelever 1s swung upward it comes in contact with the pulley 35 of themotor shaft and also with the friction wheel 16 of the pump,

whereupon the pump is driven. The leverv from the machine is 54 having means whereb 51 also-carries an idler pulley 52 which engages the belt 35 when said lever is swung 11, the second batch of clothes is Washed,

and the first batch which has been removedpassed between a pair of mangle rolls 53 and 54, respectively, and ironed.

The mangle roll 54 is driven from the shaft 41, said roll being carried by a shaft it may be coupled to the shaft 41. It .W1ll be remembered that during the washing operation the shaft 41 isreceiving motion from the shaft 36' through the gears 39 ,and 40, and the mangling and ironingoperation may therefore be carried on while the second batch of clothes is being Washed.

"down to disengage the friction wheel 16 from the pulle 35. After the suds has been a pumped back rom the'tank 12 into the tank The mangle roll 53 is carried by a shaft 53, extending parallel to the shaft 54. These two shafts are journaled in the upturned ends 55 of a bracket member 55 in the form of a plate positioned atone end ofthe hinged cover 30 and hinged at 56 to one end of the supporting frame of the machine so that the mangle rolls may be dropped down to come alongside of the frame and be out-'ofthe'way when the machine is not in operation, this position of the mangle rolls being showndotted in Fig. 2. When themangle rolls are in operative position, the plate 55 rests on the bracket '10! member 27. Before the mangle rolls may .be swung as stated, the shaft 54 must be disconnected from the shaft 41. The ma le rolls are held pressed in Working contact y means of a cam 57 fast on a rock-shaft 57 havinga rocker-arm 58 which is connected by a rod 58 to a foot lever 59 fulcrumed to the supporting frame of the machine and having a ratchet or other suitable locking means 60. When this foot lever is pressed down the cam engages the shaft 5390f the roll 53 and carries the same against the roll 54, and when the clothes are introduced be- ;tween the two rollers they yieldssufiiciently to 'allow the clothes to pass therebetween. The following means are provided for coupling the mangle roll shaft 54 to the shaft 41: On the .end of the shaft 41 is a sleeve 61 slidably mounted on saidshaft and connected thereto b a feather 61 to has a squared turn therewith. The sha t 54' end, andthe adjacent and ofthe sleeve is also squared onv the inside so that when it is slipped over the squared end of the shaft 4 54, said shaft is coupled with the shaft 41 j to turn therewith. The sleeve 61 is held in coupling position by a sliding latch 62 held advanced to engage the sleeve by .a thumb screw 62, said, latch and thumb screw being carried by the bracket 28.

When the sleeve '61 is retracted and withdrawn from the shaft 54,-the latter is dis-.

engaged from the shaft 41 to allow the mangle rolls to be dropped down alongside the machine as hereinbefore described. The

frame 55 osite the sleeve 61 is an apera PP 7 ture 63 through which said sleeve is slidable to; engage the shaft 54:. Inasmuch as the shaft 53 is movable bodily by the cam 57 to press the mangle roll 53 against the mangle roll 54, said shaft is supported in bearings which are slidable.

The bottom mangle roll 53 consists of two concentric cylinders spaced from each other. The inner cylinder 65 of this roll'contains a gas or'other burner 66. The inner cylinder is of cast'iron and the outer cylinder is of sheet iron. The inner cylinder may be heated red hot to produce a hot-air space between the two cylinders, thereby obtaining an even temperature over the Whole surface of the outer cylinder.

, I claim:

1.- In a laundry machine, a receptacle for a washing fluid, a clothes container in the receptacle mounted for rotary movement therein, the walls of said container being perforated, a rotary agitator in the container, a

. shaft carrying the agitator, driving means for the shaft, cooperating clutch members on the shaft and the container for coupling the container. to the shaft to rotate there- .with, and means for holding the container stationary in the receptacle when uncoupled ceptacle when uncoupled from the agitator.

3. In a laundrymachine, a receptacle for a washing fluid, a clothes container in the receptacle mounted for rotary movement therein, the walls of said container being perforated, an agitator in the container, means for imparting either an alternating rotary movement or a continuous rotary movement to the agitator, means for coupling the container to the agitator to rotate therewith when it is given the continuous rotarymovement, and means for holding the container stationary in the receptacle when it is uncoupledv from the agitator.

a. In a laundry machine, areceptacle for a washing fluid, a clothes container in the receptacle mounted for'rotary movement therein, the walls of said container being perforated,'an agitator in the container, a shaft carrying the agitator, means for imparting either an alternating rotary movement or a continuous rotary movement to the shaft, means for holding the container stationary with respect to the receptacle when the shaft is given an alternating rotary movement, means for coupling the container to the shaft when the latter is. given the continuous rotary movement, the shaft and the .container having coaeting clutch members and the shaft being movable in the direction of its length to engage and disenage said clutch members. i l

5. Ina. laundry machine, a receptacle for a washing fl'u1d,a clothes container in the receptacle mounted for rotary movement therein, the walls'of said container being perforated, an agitator in the container, a shaft carrying the agitator, means for imparting either an alternating rotary movement or a continuous rotary movement to the shaft, means for holding the container stationar v with respect to the receptacle when the she is given an alternating rotary movement,

' means for coupling the container to the shaft when the latter is'given the continuous rotarymovement, the shaft and the container havin coacting' clutch members and the shaft ing movable in the direction of its length to engage and disengage said clutch members, means for effecting said longitudinal movement of the shaft, and a connection between saidmeans and the aforesaid holding means of the container.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES F. SMRZ. 

